Day 110 . 10 .08.2011

21 days left until the opening and so much to do. I took a few street fashion shots for my dear friend and Fashion Editor of ELLE, Asanda Sizani last week Sunday at Cold Turkey. There were so many amazing individuals, who took pride in dressing up for the occasion.  Many of the women were camera shy; however I managed to persuade them into posing for the camera.

I was aware that they would be posted on the blog and I would receive credit for my work, but I didn’t expect the full on feature that was posted. Thank you so much to the ELLE team. You truly made my day

Check out the ELLE blog  www.elle.co.za

Check out my feature  http://www.elle.co.za/fashion/snap/

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Day 96 . 27 .07.2011

I went to my mentor today, and I showed her my collection. We spent an hour discussing each image, its strength and its weakness. It was great receiving a more experienced artist’s opinion and also looking at the images I see so often in a different view point.

I shared with her, my biggest fear about this whole journey, and that was what if the viewers don’t understand my work I would be crushed. She laughed at me, saying that they probably won’t. If she is able to laugh about it all, then I should too. 

She reminded me that everyone has a different opinion on what works and what doesn’t, but what matters the most is when one is confident and proud of their own work.

I am proud of my collection, so I guess that is all that matters. Thank you J  (you know who you are.)

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Day 90 . 21 .07.2011

Today is officially 41 days until the opening...

Lectures ended  really early today, so I will be spending the day with my camera. I have been so occupied with the admin, the overall exhibition and my pieces, that I haven’t taken any pictures for the fun of it, in a long time. 

At this point of the process, I am expecting over 60 people, to be at the opening, which is more than I could have imagined. I am feeling good about it as a whole and yes the nerves are slowly catching up with me.

I know I have invited a lot of people, but I want the opening to feel intimate, as a result, I have decided to only print the posters after the opening while focusing on publicizing the series of works to art buyers.

Tomorrow is Friday, which means I only have three lectures. This means I will be able to meet up with the potential cinematographers for my documentary that will be shot on my last week of the 131 days journey.

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Day 52 . 13 .06.2011

I feel so loved today…

I conquered In Design today. I know I have made a big deal about it all day, but it really has been the highlight of my day.

 Thank you to all my friends and family members who have been checking up on me, all day today. I really feel loved and appreciated and to think my birthday is only in 3 days time. I can’t imagine how I will feel then. My exams are around the corner, and so that is all I have been worrying about. 

In Feb 2007, Craig Natives (Fashion designer) day/sport collection was shown at the Design Indaba. When I think of an exhibition, I think of that fashion show. I know, it sounds crazy, because my exhibition is all about photography and his ‘exhibition’ was of clothing. 

However, the common trait that both of these exhibitions will share is that everything will be united. I hope I am making sense. There is only one person who will understand what I am trying to explain, and that is Thandolwethu Pahlana.

Craig Native, not only did an amazing job with the chosen models, the garments and the B-Boy dancers in the beginning, but he played his own set. Now that killed me. The ambience that set conveyed was insane.

It made me realize that everything connects, from the music you play when you’re conceptualizing you ideas, the scenery of the city that inspires your work to the variety of cultures and personalities you come across that mould you as an individual.

Everything connects. I want that sensation I had 4 years ago at my exhibition. I want people to feel that emotion when they enter the room. I want people to feel moved.

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Day 49 . 10 .06.2011

Walking down memory lane...

One of my most memorable moments with photography, was when I was interning at Cape Times. Initially, I was supposed to follow Michael Walker, who is the chief of photography. However I was still able to shadow some great photographers, and amongst the great was Matthew Jordaan and Cindy Waxa.

I took this image on one of the many and emotionally exhausting jobs. I was told I should re-think photojournalism, as it isn’t a job for the feint hearted. I found myself intercepting, trying to console, instead of taking pictures twice as fast as the actual photographer who was assigned to go with the journalist on the job. Oh well , who cares , I had fun.

Date: 2010 (September)

Medium: photography

Title: none

Location: YCMA building next to district 6 café - darling street, Cape Town

Subjects names: anonymous

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Day 41 . 02 .06.2011

Today it’s exactly 90 days until the opening...

I will be spending my morning alone in the city, playing around with my camera. I haven’t done that in a while and I do believe it’s about time that I do. Perhaps I might get some good pictures in the process.

After my play date with my camera, at 1pm, I will be having a meeting tomorrow at the gallery. I am hoping to confirm times and all the important information that is needed for the poster. I also haven’t been there in a while, so all the spacing I needed to do will all be done.

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Day 22 . 14 .05.2011

To those those are only now, joining me in my journey...

There seems to be some kind of confusion surrounding my blog and the purpose of it. I get it, I really do.  At times, I seem lost, confused, other days I am off topic and in general, it comes across as if I am not sure what my theme is.

To clear it all, I am on a journey, so I am discovering a lot of the things that I want to do and explore on the way. However, I do know what my theme is and my overall concept.

Art as a whole has never been about having all the answers, and that’s why I sometimes find no shame in saying “I don’t know but I will figure it out”. This is because I have faith in myself and my abilities, and so the fear aspect doesn’t exist anymore.

The aim of this blog is to document my thoughts, development, feelings, ideas, concerns and daily experiences.  Photography is subjective, so my mood can easily translate to something visual. Whether I am angry or happy, it can be seen in a still image. This is why the idea of 131 days was created. I do believe that it’s the only place where I can be honest and direct people to, so that they understand where I am coming from.  Everything connects. That is the beauty of life, and so when I highlight, that some days will be good and others bad, I mean it.

 Now that is cleared, blogspot has been giving us bloggers slight problems in being able to post daily, so I apologize for the late posts.

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Day 7 . 29.04.2011

Sup

I underestimated the strength blogger’s have, as blogging everyday can be a great deal of work.  I also took for granted the public promise I made, which was to post something, important or insignificant, everyday as it is part of the process leading to the final. I am saying the previous sentence out loud and it just sounds corny (I humour myself when I attempt to sound profound) and I somehow want to take it all back, but I wont.

My vacation is coming to an end, and I am not hitting the streets tonight. It’s so typical of me to choose the sheets instead of hitting the club. Spent the day with my long time friend Mpilo Ngcukana (Founder and Designer of Simon Deporres along with Simon Pocock), and Sister Latoya Marivate (Aspiring Chef) today, which was great, as I love catching up with people I adore.

I think that I am particularly lazy at this point in time, but I know that will all change when I go back to school. Vega reminds me what good work ethic is and what it means to work your way to the top. Home reminds me of food, warmth and television, and so that’s all that I am used too at this point in time. I have home to blame for my weight gain, oh and winter. I look ‘porky’ and find it rather funny, as I still manage to fit into all my clothes. This little pj (personal joke for you, mom and dad) will end when my jeans are ripping because of the large thighs.

Okay, from photography, to being lazy and all the way to body talk. Ha-ha, I think its getting late.

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Day 2 . 24.04.2011

Ola

I just dropped off my sister at work. Being awake at 8:15 is never something to smile about. So I am up for the day. Today is the second day, but unfortunately, I don’t want to work on anything. It’s my Dads birthday, so I have an excuse. To be honest, in theory, this exhibition will be one of those that the public remember, but there is a lot to be done.

I realised that I don’t want to exhibit the images that I already have, but instead create a bizarre theme and base my exhibition on something a little more conceptual. I still haven’t thought of the actual theme, but I know it will come to me in the most unforeseen moment. I also have to generate a lot of capital for this event and printing and anything and everything that I will have to pay for.

I know your most likely thinking 'this girl is crazy' and 'why is she making things so official if she has no money?’.  The answer is I am crazy and broke. However with me, is a dream that can’t seem to put aside. I am a naturally focused woman who goes for all the impossible and I believe in myself. All I really need is a dream, the discipline to work a little bit everyday, passion and a little charm to get what I want  *wink*.  So I am not worried, not one bit.

Deryck emailed me asking for a biography. I’ve been at this photography voyage for 5years now and I still have so much to learn.  Ha, this biography is going to be exceptionally short in comparison to those who normally have solo's. So I will carry on doing and learning in the process. 

Its 8:26 and I only have breakfast on my mind. The plan for the day is that I meant to go to Vortex with my cousin Lumka Nteta, but life is way too chilled in Cape Town, so plans are forever changing. I am hungry, so I am out.

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